The Reluctant Queen

Chapter 3

The King’s morning assembly never started on time and the officials had come to expect King Charles to stumble in two hours later, hungover and hardly coherent. They were lucky if he showed up fully dressed with no buttons missed from his dress shirt. The thought filled Marié with shame. As they say, to whom much is entrusted, much will be asked. However, in all his life, Charles had never been responsible for anything. The King was Marié’s brother but she had long been disillusioned with him. Charles was arrogant and selfish, and it was their people who suffered for it.

Even when he was a mere Crown Prince, Charles lacked the ambition and conviction to do good.

Who could blame him? The late King did not lead by example and his officials, that Charles inherited, were driven by selfish ambition. Their mother had done her best to caution Charles but he was a true reflection of the late King. Sometimes Marié wondered if the suffering of their kingdom would end if Charles died and Lucien took over.

The throne room was large and vacuous much like the men who congregate inside of it. The high ceiling was plastered with gold and all things shimmery. Marie’s ancestors had a taste for lavish things. Since Charles had become King, he commissioned many statues of wild predators and paintings depicting the destruction of the rebels, that many knew of him as a fashionable and forward thinking man. However, those things did not make his relationship any easier with his sister.

Marié looked down at the empty room. The golden doors still remained shut. The assembly was late as usual. The King and his men were a pack of drunks instead of rulers of the kingdom. She looked down at the marble floor and wondered what it would be like to stand before the King and bring forth the cries of the people. Was she a coward for not challenging her brother publicly? Was it foolish to hope that one day he would see his own folly? Once, she thought of hiding behind the many columns in the throne room, long enough to not be seen until the assembly began, but the moment one of the officials noticed a woman in their presence, Marié knew that she would not be able to speak her mind. Princess or not.

Quickly, Marié climbed up the five steps leading to the dais, moved behind the golden throne and pushed aside the red curtain hiding the King’s small chamber. The smell was tolerable as it hadn’t been used that morning. It was quiet for a long time before the vibration of feet filled the great hall.

“Where is the King?”

“Most likely with Mademoiselle Vivienne,” one of the officials uttered and followed it with an infuriating laugh. “How does the Queen fare?”

“Be quiet or he will have my head.”

“She will be done with you soon enough.” The men laughed. The King and Queen’s indiscretions were widely known that Charles had vowed to not have any children with her. There was no love between them and their pretence at being a couple was taken with a pinch of salt. “Are her breasts as pink as her lips?”

Lord Bernard, Count of DuPont, laughed. Marié knew that laugh. It was grating to think that she once believed herself to be in love with him. Perhaps she had not known him at all. “A gentleman never tells.”

The side doors pushed open. “His Majesty, King Charles V.” The sounds of laughter vanished as single steps echoed from the other room. “Make this short,” Marié’s brother said.

“Some men tackling the floods have left their posts, Your Majesty.”

“Why do you report this to me? Surely, the generals know what the law says about deserters.”

“There is a shortage of men, my King. The generals fear that the deserters are joining the rebel camps. The number of attacks in our outposts have increased.”

“The rebels this and the rebels that!” King Charles bellowed. “Exterminate them from my cities. I don't want them arrested. I have no further patience for them. They will embarrass me in the face of our allies. What will you do if they attack Prince Wilhelm? Will you offer your heads then?”

The room remained silent. The cowards! Marié was fuming. How could he? It was easy to issue a decree for the murder of the rebels instead of fixing the issues in the country and it was no surprise that her brother chose the easy way out. Marié waited until the assembly dispersed. She didn’t bother going through the side door where she had come from. She ran through the hallways of the King’s palace, her mind reeling.

Marié was so distracted that she didn’t notice the Queen take a turn, coming straight towards her. There was Lady Vivienne, the same woman who had been rumoured to have spent the night with the King, Lady Antoinette, the Queen’s younger sister and Marié’s oldest friend, and Lady Rosalié — Lucien’s wife. Of all the women, Lady Rosalié was the one Marié tolerated. She had a dislike for everything so it didn’t feel particularly personal that she didn’t take to Marié. However, it wasn’t lost on Marié that in all things the women agreed with each other. Alas, it didn’t matter whether Rosalié was impartial to her or not.

It was too late to turn around or take another exit. Marié slowed her steps as she neared them. “Your Majesty,” she said, briefly nodding her head to the Queen and her entourage. Please don’t stop me. Please just leave me alone.

“Where are you headed?” The Queen asked. “Or rather, where are you coming from? We were just at your palace.”

Marié inwardly sighed. “Did you want something, Your Majesty?”

The Queen sneered. “Well, the ball for Prince Wilhelm is this evening. I came to remind you to not embarrass this family.”

“I was not planning on attending.”

“Perhaps it’s a good thing that you will not be in attendance.” The Queen looked at Marié from head to toe. The veils she wore and her lack of keeping up with the latest fashions left much to be desired. “I do not wish to hear the rumours of you running around with the wrong crowds.”

I am not the one who the officials openly discuss bedding, Marié thought. “What rumours have you heard?”

“They say you have rendezvous with unsavoury characters,” Antoinette chirped. “You are much too changed Marié. If you change your behaviour, we would welcome you in our company.”

“I can’t say I want to be hit over the head with scripture,” the Queen said thoughtfully. “Do try and watch your behaviour while the Crown Prince is in residence.”

Marié lowered her head into a bow and waited as the entourage passed her by. Nanny came running with fire in her eyes. If she could throw knives at their backs, she would have.

“What did that promiscuous thing have to say?” Nanny asked, hands on her waist. “I searched for you everywhere in your palace and thought you hid well from that snake, only to realise that you have given me the slip!”

Marié sniggered. “Now why would I ever do that? I went for a walk.”

Nanny narrowed her hawk-like eyes. “Where? Do you think I don’t know that you wouldn’t willingly go to your brother’s palace? What are you up to, girl?”

Marié rolled her shoulders back. “Am I ever up to anything?”

“Always.”

“I wish to see Count DuPont.”

Nanny stood very still for a long moment. She studied Marié with the same judgemental look that the Queen had given her earlier. Only this time Marié knew she was being assessed for madness and not her sense of dressing. “Have you lost your mind, girl? Why would you want to see that man?”

“I don’t have to tell you.” Marié shrugged. “It’s up to you whether you want to be a chaperone or not. I have no qualms about seeing him alone.”

“I would not let you see that wolf in sheep’s skin alone.”

“Nanny!” Marié feigned offence. She covered her mouth with her hand and stared down at the old woman. “It is a crime to insult one of the King’s men.”

“A legion of fools I tell you,” Nanny proclaimed, taking Marié by the hand. “Why do you waste your energy on him? It would be better to seek your betrothed than that scheming devil. He is up to no good.”

“Should I be surprised that this somehow became about Wilhelm?”

“I just don’t understand why you insist on acting like he doesn’t exist.”

“He is not here for me.”

“Who says he is not?”

Marié rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t matter, Nanny. I do not wish to get married to any man, let alone some pompous Prince.”

“You judge him quickly.”

“He has become friendly with my brother. That’s all I need to know.”

The DuPont manor was in another province entirely. When Count DuPont wasn’t away on one of his missions for the King, he lived in one of many spare rooms at the palace. Marié didn’t know whether Bernard would be in his room or not. After overhearing his conversation earlier, she hoped that he wasn’t out.

Bernard answered the impatient knocks on his door with a raised brow. Lord Bernard took in the scowling older woman and frowned. Nanny was a big part of the royal family and she had not been a huge fan of his.

“Nanny,” Bernard opened his mouth in surprise and then took in the woman in a green veil behind her. He smiled. “Princess, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I felt like taking a walk,” Marié said. “Would you mind accompanying me?”

He smirked. “The pleasure would be mine.”

Marié had not spoken to Bernard since the day he accepted the position of being one of the King’s advisors. After he chose a title over her, there wasn’t much to say. Nearly eight years later, he was practically a stranger. Perhaps she had deceived herself about what she knew of him or perhaps she didn’t know him at all. Once upon a time, his choice broke her heart but that was long ago and she no longer thought of him or wanted to be with him. As they walked along the garden, Marié knew that this encounter would make it to her sister-in-law.

“What made you seek me out today?” The Count asked. “You have refused to answer all of my letters. Perhaps, you don’t want to marry the Crown Prince…”

“That isn’t any of your concern,” Marié cut him off.

“I know your brother has taken a liking to him and if you—”

“That is not why I came to see you today,” Marié said, getting closer to him. Nanny cleared her throat at their closeness but Marié ignored her. No one could hear what she wanted to say. “I need your help transporting a package out of the city.”

Bernard sighed heavily. “I imagine that the reason you have come to me is because your brother cannot know.”

Marié stopped and faced him. Through her green veil, his green eyes had that innocence that she once loved. His dark brown hair was neatly cut and shaped his face. He looked no different from when she still thought him handsome — young and full of spirit. If only, she knew then what she knows now. “My brother wishes to kill every person who he thinks is a rebel. There are many people displaced from their homes because of the floods. I want you to help me move them.”

“All the men that are able have been commanded to go help the flooded villages. If you know of any men that are hiding, you should come forward. It is treason, Princess.”

“It is also treason to covet the King’s spouse.”

Bernard’s face became green. He took a step forward and loomed over Marié. “He knows.”

“Would he still feel the same if I were to bring it up?”

The Count cleared his throat and stepped away from her. “Do you have to do things this way?”

“I used to think you knew right from wrong.” Marié said, flailing her shoulders. “Yes, I suppose this is my only choice. I will contact you with the details.”

Marié stepped aside but Bernard grabbed her forearm. She stopped and looked at him. “We are all just trying to survive.”

“By suppressing the poor and branding them criminals? If that’s what you call survival, then I want no part in it.”

Bernard moved his hands along her waist and brought her firmly against his body. It was not lost on him, that up above on the first floor balcony, Prince Wilhelm and his bodyguard watched. His hands moved up to her face, parting the veil in two. Her delicate features stared back at him. Others may have forgotten her appearance but her pink lips and rosy cheeks were imprinted on his mind like his own name. And those eyes, so blue — deep and filled with mischief. Long gone was the fearless girl who threw herself at the world. The walls of her heart were more guarded than the King himself. Bernard missed her laughter more than anything in the world.

“Ask anything of me, Princess, and I will give it to you.”

Marié, though her touch was gentle, thwarted Bernard’s hand away. “Provide only what you have been asked.”

Her veil fell like rain, covering her face once more. Her reputation as the forgotten Princess was hard-won. Marié seethed, feeling the eyes of onlookers. Bernard took a step forward and Marié took one back.

“I have made many mistakes but I have loved only you.”

“And what do you think you’re doing?” Prince Lucien asked, suddenly behind Marié.

Nanny let out a wolf-grin. “The bastard dared touch the Princess.”

“I am fine.” Marié sighed. “Smile and let it pass. I do not need the attention.”

Prince Lucien took his sister’s arm and linked it with his own. Just like Marié, he loathed their brother's politics and troubles at court. He smiled, easing the eyes of those closest to them. As he turned his back, Lucien took note of the copper hair with a shining metal across a furrowed brow. From afar, the intricate design of the golden circlet worn by Prince Wilhelm was not visible and Lucien thanked God that the man was too far away to hear Bernard’s words.

“Keep your distance from my sister if you know what’s good for you.” Lucien smiled for onlookers. “Come Marié, I have a chessboard with our names on it.”

Marié snorted, allowing herself to be led by him. “I was not in danger.”

“You should have seen her eyes,” Nanny said animated. “They grew so big, I thought that tongue would give him a lashing.”

“I am too dignified to be upset by Count DuPont.”

Prince Lucien frowned. “Umm, you are not still…”

Marié smiled, squeezing herself at her brother’s side. “I have no lingering affection for him.”

“What is it that you wanted from him?”

A measured silence fell between them. There was a distance that had only grown longer and wider over the years. At first, Lucien thought it was his imagination. He had given his sister space where he thought she needed it, anticipated her needs and even formed a shield when she argued with their elder brother. However, the tide between them only grew rougher. He wished there was something that he could do but Marié always kept her distance and he wasn’t sure why.

“It’s best if you stay out of it,” Marié said, freeing herself from. “I have plans to spend the evening at the monastery studying and praying.”

“I want to help you.”

The corners of Marié’s mouth rose up. “I know, brother. You can’t help me without the king’s spies saying you are after the throne. It’s alright.”

Prince Lucien stepped forward and took her hand in his. His warmth made her miss the unity she felt when they were still children running through empty fields hand in hand. Those children, filled with hope and assurances, were long dead. Lucien was the King’s heir and his involvement in her troubles would break apart a family that she fought hard to keep whole. “This is dangerous ground. I know you say you have no contact with the rebels and I hope that’s true. Desperate men take incredible risks, do not place yourself in danger.”

“It’s just hungry women and orphans.”

Prince Lucien’s gaze followed Nanny. Nanny nodded with a faint smile. “I never lose sight of her.”

Lucien’s smile widened as he leaned forward and kissed Marié over the forehead. “Is there any hope that you will attend the ball?”

“Amusing!” Marié barked out a laugh. “I am afraid our entire family would be disgraced if I dared return to society.”

“Who said such a thing?”

“I can’t say I disagree with them,” Marié said, walking away from her brother. “Our brother might choke on his wine with me there watching him.”

“You are supposed to drink and be merry!” Prince Lucien called out after her.

“You know I have to be contrary!”